Particulate material dispenser



Nov. 5, 1963 LE ROY D. GORE PARTICULATE MATERIAL DISPENSER Filed May 15, 1961 ."E... m." ob

INVENTOR. Z6 Roy 0. Gore BY 44 ,z www ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,1ti9564 PARTICULATE MATERIAL DISPENSER Le Roy B. Gore, independence, Mm, assignor to The Venrio Company, Kansas City, Me, a corporation or Missouri Filed May 15, 1961, Ser. No. 116,070 Qiaims. (Cl. 2223l%) This invention relates to a machine for dispensing materials, and more particularly to a machine for dispensing meltab-le, particulate material.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a device for use with a receptacle for dispensing from the latter, a meltable, particulate material having a relatively high surface tension when in the liquid state so that the decrease of the volume of the material dispensed due to the clinging thereof to the dispensing device by surface tension, is substantially eliminated and thereby, a predetermined volume of the material is dispensed each and every time the device is actuated.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device for dispensing meltable, particulate material from the aforesaid receptacle, and which includes a vane of yieldable material which may be yieldably shifted to a first position when the device is actuated, whereby the materials which cling to the vane by surface tension, are efiectively removed therefrom when the vane springs back from the aforesaid position to the normal position thereof.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a dispensing device including a member rotatably mounted on a receptacle in closing relationship to an outlet in the latter, and provided with a vane of yieldable material having a projection thereon engageable with a protuberance on the receptacle extending into the outlet, whereby upon rotation of the member, the projection engages the protuberance to place the vane in position to spring back to its original position when the projection disengages the protuberance, the springing back of the vane being ellective to remove particulate material clinging thereto by surface tension.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means for releasing a given quantity of particulate material from the aforesaid receptacle when said member rotates through a predetermined arc, whereby the amount of material dispensed may be controlled by varying the number of revolutions made by said member each time the latter is actuated.

Other objects of the present invention relate to the provision of a plurality of extensions on the aforesaid member for connecting the vanes to the latter, whereby the vanes are mounted in spaced relationship to the outer face of the member and thereby are capable of moving toward and away from said member; to the provision of a plurality of vanes on the member, each having a projection thereon engageable with the aforesaid protuberance as the member rot-ates, whereby the particulate material clinging to each of the vanes is effectively removed when each projection disengages the protuberance and the corresponding vane springs back to its normal position; and to the provision of a longitudinally extending edge on each vane which is engaged by the projection on the preceding vane, whereby the edge of each vane serves as a stop member for limiting the outward travel of the projection on the vane preceding the edge.

3,10%,554 Patented Nov. 5, 1963 In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing device adapted to be mounted across the outlet of a materials-carrying receptacle;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a receptacle with the device of FIG. 1 coupled therewith, parts being broken away to illustrate details of construction;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2 and illustrating the interconnection of a power-actuated device with the dispensing device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2 illustrating details of construction of the device shown in FIG. 1.

The present invention provides a machine for dispens ing materials, and more particularly to meltable, particulate material such as ice, as used in conventional vending machines dispensing soft drinks or the like.

The present invention further provides a means for overcoming the surface tension normally encountered with materials of this nature, and thus overcomes the tendency of the materials to cling to the dispensing parts as the material is dispensed. Thus, a predetermined quantity of the material is dispensed each time the dispensing device is actuated and the tendency of the materials to cling to the dispensing parts during actuation of the device, is substantially eliminated.

To this end, a member is rotatably mounted across the outlet of the receptacle containing the meltable, particulate material, and a plurality of vanes of yieldable material are secured to the outer face of the member. The vanes are each provided with a projection thereon which engages a protuberance on the receptacle and extending into the outlets so that, as the member rotates relative to the receptacle under the influence of power-actuated means, each projection engages the protuberance and yieldably shifts the corresponding vane toward the outer face of the member. As the projection clears the protuberance, the vane springs back to its original position and in doing so, effectively ejects the material clinging to the outer surface of the vane, thus ridding the surface or" the materials. It is evident, therefore, that a predetermined amount of material is dispensed each and every time the device is actuated, regardless of the number of revolutions made by the rotatable member.

The machine which forms the subject of the present invention is broadly denoted by the numeral lit and cornprises a receptacle 12 in the form of an elongated chute 14 of tubular cross section. Chute i4, is open at the lowermost end thereof to provide an outlet 16 for receptacle 12, the latter being adapted to contain a mcltable, particulate material having a relatively high surface tension in the liquid state. To this end, receptacle i2, is to be utilized with machines for vending soft drinks or the like, so that ice in chipped or particle form may be contained within receptacle l2 and dispensed by predetermined amounts concurrent with the dispenising of the soft drinks.

Chute 1 is provided with a protuberance 13 extending into and toward the center of chute 14, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Protubcrance 18 is preferably formed by stamping a U-shaped slot in one side of chute l4 and forcing the resulting projection inwardly to form protuberance 18.

A member broadly denoted by the numeral 20, is disposed within chute 14 above outlet 15 thereof and includes a transversely polygonal, elongated element 22 rigidly secured and surrounding an elongated shaft 24 journalled in opposed end walls of chute M for rotation relative to the latter about a substantially horizontal axis. Shaft 24 projects outwardly from chute l4, and a pulley 26, as shown in FIG. 3, is secured thereto for rotation therewith. An endless belt 28 interconnects pulley as with another pulley 39 mounted on a drive shaft 3- 2 of an electric motor 34 mounted on receptacle 12 in any suitable manner. Motor 34 is adapted to be operably coupled with control mechanism for actuating shaft 24 and thereby dispensing particulate materials carried by receptacle 12. Further, the motor 34 is to be actuated concurrent with the actuation of an associated machine for vending soft drinks or the like.

Element 22 is provided with a plurality of circumferentlally spaced extensions 36 thereon secured to the outer faces 38 thereof. Each extension 36 is provided with a fiat surface which is perpendicular to a radial line emanating from the central axis of shaft 24 and inclined relative to the outer surfaces of adjacent extensions.

An elongated vane ll} is secured to each extension 36 and extends partially around element 22 in spaced relationship to a corresponding face 33 thereof. As shown in FIG. 4, each vane lt} is provided with one longitudinal edge 42 which extends beyond the corresponding extension 36. A plurality of screws 44 interconnects the vane 40 to the corresponding extension 36 proximal to the longitudinal edge 42 thereof.

Each vane 49 is formed from a sheet of yieldable material such as stainless steel or the like, and each vane 46 is provided with a substantially convex outer surface 46. A projection 45 is formed proximal to the opposite longitudinal edge 56 thereof by bending and folding vane 40 in a manner so that projection 48 extends radially outwardly fromthe central axis of shaft 24. The opposite longitudinal edge 50 of each vane 4a is positioned to engage the longitudinal edge 42 of the adjacent vane 4'9 as illustrated in F IG. 4. Thus, vane ill, which is substantially resilient by virtue of the yieldability thereof, is prevented from outward movement relative to element 22 by virtue of the interengagement of edge 50 with the longitudinal edge 42 of the adjacent vane 40.

Each projection 48 is engageable with protuberance 1-8 on chute 14 as shaft 24 rotates. As this occurs, each vane 40 is shafted inwardly toward the corresponding face 38 of element 2?. until the projection 48 thereof clears protuberance l3. Thereupon, the projection d8 is disengaged from protuberance l8 and the vane 40 springs outwardly toward the internal wall of chute 14 to a position where the opposite longitudinal edge 50 thereof engages the longitudinal edge 42 of the adjacent vane 40. in effect, each vane it is cantilevered along a line substantially parallel with the longitudinal edge. 42 thereof.

In operation, meltable, particulate material is contained in receptacle l2 and the same gravitates toward outlet 16. 'In the inoperative condition, a pair of opposed projections 48 substantially span the distance between the side walls of chute 14 and the member 2% so as to substantially close outlet 1-6 to the materials thereabove. When the machine It} is actuated, motor 34 is energized to rotate shaft 2% in the direction of the arrow 52 shown in FIG. 2, and shaft 24 rotates a predetermined number of revolutions, depending upon the amount of material to be dispensed. As shaft 24 rotates, the projections, which normally span the distance between member 24 and the side Walls of chute 14', move downwardly and upwardly respectively so as to open the chute 14 to the outlet 16, thus permitting the materials to gravitate to the latter. Since some of the material above protuberance 18 may have melted in the vicinity of the vanes 49 supporting the same, the surface tension may be great enough to retain a certain amount of the material on the outer surface 46 of each vane 4h. As the vane 40 passes the protuberance 1.8, the projection 48 thereof moves into engagement with the latter to thereby shift the vane ll toward shaft 24. As projection 48 is disengaged from protuberance 1S, the vane ill springs back and forcefully ejects the material clinging thereto by surface tension outwardly therefrom and toward outlet 16. Depending upon the number of rotations of shaft 24 each time machine id is actuated, the vanes' ltl continue this ejection of the materials each time the projections 48 thereof become disengaged from protuberance 13.

it is evident that the space between adjacent extensions 36 on element 22 provide grooves into which the corresponding vanes 49 move when projections 4% engage protuberance 18..

A pair of discs 54 are secured to the outer ends of shaft 24 on opposed sides of element 22 and substantially cover the spaces formed between the faces 38 and vanes 40 to prevent the inadvertent movement of ice into said spaces.

It is evident that a given amount of particulate material is released for gravitation through outlet 16 for each revolution of shaft 24. material dispensed from machine it may be controlled by varying the num er of revolutions of shaft 24 each time machine it is actuated.

As evident in FIGS. 2 and 4, the'lowerrnost portions of chute -14 are flared outwardly so as to prevent the bridging of material passing downwardly toward outlet lo.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A dispenser for controlling gravitational discharge of meltable, particulate material from a receptacle comprising:

a I generally upright chute adapted to be mounted on said receptacle in depending relationship therefrom and provided with an outlet at the lower extremity thereof; and

a dispensing member rotatably mounted in said chute adjacent the outlet thereof and located in substantially bridging relationship to said outlet, said memher being rotatable about an axis transverse to the longitudinal length of the chute and provided with a mounting clement rotatable about said axis, extending substantially the full width of the chute and having a series of longitudinal extensions thereon located in greater spaced relationship from the axis of rotation of the element than the intermediate areas of the element between said extensions, an elongated, transversely arcuate vane of resilient material for'each of said extensions, and means securing one longitudinal margin of each of the vanes to a respective extension of said element, each of the vanes being provided with. an outwardly extending projection on the other longitudinal margin thereof and located in generally radially extending relationship to the axis of rotation of the element, each of the vanesbeing of less transverse width than the distance between adjacent extensions of the element and the chute being provided with an inwardly extending protuberance located within the path of travel of the projections on said vanes in a position to eifect inward flexing of each vane upon engagement of the projection thereon with said protuberance whereby controlled amounts of particulate material from the receptacle are discharged through the outlet of the chute during rotation of the dispensing member and with transverse flexing of the individual vanes upon engagement of the latter with the protuberance serving to efiect dislodgrnent of all particulate material tending to adhere to the individual vanes as the latter are released from the protuberance and return toward the initial disposition thereof.

2. A dispenser as set forth in claim l whercin each of the vanes is provided with an outer longitudinal edge at said other margin thereof positioned to underlie said one margin of the next adjacent vane for limiting movement of respective projections away fromthe axis of rotation of the dispensing member.

Hence, the amount of particulate 5 6 3. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said 5. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of element comprises a transversely polygonal block said vanes is of spring steel having a high degree of mounted for rotation about said axis and having a series resiliency. of spaced faces between said longitudinal extensions positioned to clear said other margins of corresponding vanes 5 References Cited in the file of this patent as the latter are caused to flex transversely thereof during engagement of the projections with the protuberance on UNITED STATES PATENTS Said eaaoss Grabau Nov. 5, 1901 4. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vanes are of configuration cooperable to substantially de- 10 FOREIGN PATENTS fine a cylinder in surrounding coaxial relationship to said 37 638 Denmark June 17 1927 element. 

1. A DISPENSER FOR CONTROLLING GRAVITATIONAL DISCHARGE OF MELTABLE, PARTICULATE MATERIAL FROM A RECEPTACLE COMPRISING: A GENERALLY UPRIGHT CHUTE ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON SAID RECEPTACLE IN DEPENDING RELATIONSHIP THEREFROM AND PROVIDED WITH AN OUTLET AT THE LOWER EXTREMITY THEREOF; AND A DISPENSING MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CHUTE ADJACENT THE OUTLET THEREOF AND LOCATED IN SUBSTANTIALLY BRIDGING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID OUTLET, SAID MEMBER BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL LENGTH OF THE CHUTE AND PROVIDED WITH A MOUNTING ELEMENT ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID AXIS, EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL WIDTH OF THE CHUTE AND HAVING A SERIES OF LONGITUDINAL EXTENTIONS THEREON LOCATED IN GREATER SPACED RELATIONSHIP FROM THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE ELEMENT THAN THE INTERMEDIATE AREAS OF THE ELEMENT BETWEEN SAID EXTENSIONS, AN. ELONGATED, TRANSVERSELY ARCUATE VANE OF RESILIENT MATERIAL FOR EACH OF SAID EXTENSIONS, AND MEANS SECURING ONE LONGITUDINAL MARGIN OF EACH OF THE VANES TO A RESPECTIVE EXTENSION OF SAID ELEMENT, EACH OF THE VANES BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PROJECTION ON THE OTHER LONGITUDINAL MARGIN THEREOF AND LOCATED IN GENERALLY RADIALLY EXTENDING RELATIONSHIP TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE ELEMENT, EACH OF THE VANES BEING OF LESS TRANSVERSE WIDTH THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ADJACENT EXTENSIONS OF THE ELEMENT AND THE CHUTE BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INWARDLY EXTENDING PROTUBERANCE LOCATED WITHIN THE PATH OF THE TRAVEL OF THE PROJECTIONS ON SAID VANES IN A POSITION OF EFFECT INWARD FLEXING OF EACH VANE UPON ENGAGEMENT OF THE PROJECTION THEREON WITH SAID PROTUBERANCE WHEREBY CONTROLLED AMOUNTS OF PARTICULATE MATERIAL FROM THE RECEPTACLE ARE DISCHARGED THROUGH THE OUTLET OF THE CHUTE DURING ROTATION OF THE DISPENSING MEMBER AND WITH TRANSVERSE FLEXING OF THE INDIVIDUAL VANES UPON ENGAGEMENT OF THE LATTER WITH THE PROTUBERANCE SERVING TO EFFECT DISLODGMENT OF ALL PARTICULATE MATERIAL TENDING TO ADHERE TO THE INDIVIDUAL VANES AS THE LATTER ARE RELEASED FROM THE PROTUBERANCE AND RETURN TOWARD THE INITIAL DISPOSITION THEREOF. 